Matt Osborne
Acting • Born 1957-07-27 – Died 2013-06-28
Biography
Matthew "Matt" Wade Osborne was an American professional wrestler. Osborne was a second generation wrestler, being son of "Tough" Tony Borne, and is best known as being the first and longest-running wrestler to portray the character of Doink the Clown. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1957. sborne was found dead on June 28, 2013, in the Plano, Texas apartment he lived in. Though no weapons were found near his body, and police said the death appeared accidental, they launched a precautionary homicide investigation. The cause of death was later determined to be an accidental overdose of morphine and hydrocodone. He also suffered from heart disease, which had been a contributing factor in his death. In June 2015, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against WWE, alleging that "WWE created a culture of violence and sacrificed Matt Osborne’s brain for its own profit" which "led to further illnesses and injuries, including depression and drug abuse, which ultimately resulted in his untimely death." WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt said the suit was without merit and blamed the attorneys for taking advantage of the families involved. The suit was filed by Michelle James, the mother of two of Osborne's four children, and was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE. The lawsuit was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant, who ruled that they failed to show that his death was linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy Matt Obsorne appeared in SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 as a DLC character in 2008 under the name, Doink the Clown. However, he did not appear in any other licensed wrestling game afterwards.
Filmography
47 credits
WrestleMania
Movie • 1985
"Maniac" Matt Borne
Inside the WWF
Movie • 1994
Doink The Clown
WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers
Movie • 1993
Doink the Clown
WWE U.K. Rampage 1993
Movie • 1993
Doink the Clown
WCW SuperBrawl 1
Movie • 1991
Big Josh
WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
Movie • 1991
Big Josh
WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '87
Movie • 1987
"Maniac" Matt Borne
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
Movie • 2007
"Maniac" Matt Borne
JCW Legends and Icons
Movie • 2011
WWF European Rampage 1993
Movie • 1993
Doink the Clown
ECW - Unreleased Vol. 2
Movie • 2013
Doink the Clown
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Movie • 2013
Matt Borne
WCCW Christmas Star Wars '87
Movie • 1987
Matt Borne
NWA Clash of The Champions XIII: Thanksgiving Thunder
Movie • 1990
Sgt. Krueger
WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII
Movie • 1992
Big Josh
WCW Starrcade 1990
Movie • 1990
Sgt. Kruger
WCCW Cotton Bowl Extravaganza '86
Movie • 1986
"Maniac" Matt Borne
WCCW Labor Day Star Wars '86
Movie • 1986
"Maniac" Matt Borne
WCCW Parade of Champions '87
Movie • 1987
Matt Borne
WCW Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA
Movie • 1991
Big Josh
WCW The Great American Bash 1991
Movie • 1991
Big Josh
WCW Clash of The Champions XVI: Fall Brawl '91
Movie • 1991
Big Josh
WCW Clash of The Champions XVII
Movie • 1991
Big Josh
WCW Starrcade 1991
Movie • 1991
Big Josh
WAR Ryogoku Crush Night
Movie • 1996
Doink
WWE WrestleMania IX
Movie • 1993
Doink the Clown
WWE SummerSlam 1993
Movie • 1993
Doink The Clown
WCW WrestleWar 1992
Movie • 1992
Big Josh
WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1993
Movie • 1993
Doink The Clown
ECW's NWA World Title Tournament
Movie • 1994
Doink The Clown
WWE Mega Matches '95
Movie • 1995
Doink the Clown
WWE UK Rampage '93
Movie • 1993
Doink the Clown
WWE Global Warfare
Movie • 1993
Doink The Clown
ECW Hardcore TV
TV • 1993
Raw
TV • 1993
Doink The Clown (archive footage)
Raw
TV • 1993
Doink
Raw
TV • 1993
Doink The Clown
Dark Side of the Ring
TV • 2019
Self (Archival Footage)
World Class Championship Wrestling
TV • 1982
Matt Borne
WWE Old School
TV • 1973
Matt Borne
Mid-South Wrestling
TV • 1981
Matt Borne (Archive footage)
Mid-South Wrestling
TV • 1981
Matt Borne
GWF Presents: The Best of USWA
TV • 1992
Matt Borne
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
TV • 1981
Matt Borne
USWA Championship Wrestling
TV • 1977
Matt Borne
Clash of the Champions
TV • 1988
Sgt. Krueger
Clash of the Champions
TV • 1988
Big Josh